Thursday, September 27, 2012

Pure + Free // Blissoma Skincare Package GIVEAWAY (Worth $90!)

A little over a year ago, I was introduced to a natural, handmade skincare label called Blissoma. I'd been in search of a line of face care products that wasn't loaded with chemicals for years, but the majority of organic and natural products I'd used didn't seem to work very well for me. After trying Blissoma for a couple of week, I was overjoyed with the results (you can read my original review here), and have been a fan and regular user ever since. So I was pretty excited when Julie, the creative chemist behind Blissoma's skincare goodness and September's featured sponsor, asked if she could send me two of their brand new products to try out: Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex, and Free Herbal Gel Cleanser. And I was even more excited when Julie told me that she was also going to offer Bubby and Bean readers a chance to win a set of these amazing products plus a $40 gift certificate: a $90 value! Read on for my experience and how you can win...

My skin changes on a regular basis (one week it's dry, the next it's normal, the next it's laden with zits), and lately it's been unusually sensitive. So the opportunity to test out gently-formulated products like these couldn't have come at a better time. Over the last few weeks, my regimen has been very simple. I start off by cleansing with the Free Herbal Gel Cleanser, and follow that by patting a few pumps of Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex under my eyes, then smoothing it on my face and décolletage. Once a week or so, I also use the Refine Clay Renewal Treatment (aka my favorite skincare product of all time).

So far, I've been quite impressed with the Free Gel Cleanser and how well it removes dirt and oil without stripping my skin. I tend to be one of those pore-obsessed people who can easily (and foolishly) convince myself that only heavy duty cleansers that leave my face flaky and aching for moisture are actually getting it clean, so to see a gentle product work so well is pretty amazing. It even washes away my waterproof mascara in an instant, with no irritation. And the name "Free" couldn't possibly suit this cleanser better - it contains no alcohol, no harsh chemical or acids, not even any essential oils. Love that. Certified organic, food grade Quillaja extract provides a subtle lather and gives a "soapy" quality without the alkaline PH that usually accompanies most soaps. This makes it ideal for around the eyes for makeup removal - it's super mild and the same PH range as skin. Other ingredients include red clover, heather flowers, alfalfa, and yerba mate. Yerba Mate gives it a nice punch of antioxidants and energizing qualities (and actually contains more active compounds than Green Tea!)

The Pure daily soothing complex has been equally as impressive, especially in its ability to smooth my skin and equally heal both my blemishes and my dry patches. It's light without being too watery, and allows my face to look and feel calmed and balanced. Like the Free cleanser, it's also seriously gentle - unscented and free from all chemicals and allergens (including gluten, alcohol, nuts, petrochemicals, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and even common botanical allergens). As I get older, I notice myself becoming more sensitive to beauty products (and in general - my allergies are ridiculous), and this is one of the only moisturizers I've used in the past couple of years that hasn't aggravated my skin at all. I've also started to notice more wrinkles around my eyes recently (noooooo!), and my allergies tend to reveal themselves as gloriously attractive under-eye bags. So I was really pleased to discover that I could use Pure around my eyes. It leaves them looking bright and well-moisturized without a heavy, oily feel. It's also full of all sorts of healing goodness, like Marshmallow for soothing mucilage, Plantain leaf for anti-redness, Heather Flowers which provide the anti-allergenic flavonoid Quercetin (yay for new collagen!), Butcher's Broom for a host of minerals, Rutin to strengthen capillaries and areduce inflammation, and Baobab and Pumpkin seed oils, which provide Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids along with vitamins A, C, D, E and Zinc.

All in all, I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the way my skin looks and feels after using Pure and Free. It also feels really good to know that I'm using eco-conscious, healthy products. I can't wait to continue this regimen in the coming weeks!

And now for the best part... You have the chance to try out these incredible products for yourself, for free! Julie has also generously offered a $40 gift certificate in addition to the skincare set, so that you can refill your set after it's out or try some of her other stellar products.

This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers. (If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using GFC or one of these readers). Then just leave a comment with your favorite item in Blissoma's shop!

Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following. (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).

This giveaway is open through October 3rd. The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after. Thank you again to our featured sponsor Blissoma by Irie Star for giving Bubby and Bean's readers the chance to win this amazing skincare set and gift certificate!

I would love to try the oily natural skin care kit. I've been battling acne and oily skin for years and haven't found any skin care line that does the trick. I've tried all kinds of medication and I would feel so much better (and my face would feel so much better) if I used a natural product.

i seriously thought that by the time i reached my 30's i'd stop having breakouts. i was seriously wrong. these two items sound amazing & i would love to try them out to see if they help my crazy skin. also, i'm super interested in the clay renewal treatment, it sounds like the right cure for my moody skin.

I love the Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex. I was lucky enough to receive a sample and was very impressed with quality of the product and the results. This was the first Blissoma product I've used and I plan on trying many others!

I've been looking for a new moisturizer for awhile now because the one I have isn't quite cutting it--though it's better than the other ones I've tried. I had kind of given up and resigned to using what I use now, but behold! An opportunity to try a different brand absolutely free? I couldn't possibly pass up this chance! And even though I feel almost a little selfish, having just entered your sponsor giveaway, I'm going to enter this one too haha.

Now, I would probably have to do some more in depth research to decide which moisturizer I would want to try, but I think their Awake - Morning Firming Facial Moisture could be the way to go. I also really like the sound/looks of their candles : ]

i absolutely love all your products and how you label them VEGAN! so happy to be a vegan and into herbs and find you!! really needing the Refine - Clay Renewal Treatment lately! and hoping to win your amazing prizes!!!

I had the pleasure of trying a sample of Pure before it came out - it's a great product, did wonders on a very irritated patch of skin on my neck that nothing else, from calamine to argan oil, was helping heal. Wrote to Julie about it and she sent back a wonderful and informative reply about all the great healing ingredients that are in it. I've also tried it as a night moisturizer and it's great for that as well. Excited to see this new gel cleanser as well! I'd love to win this set. Thanks for the contest! :)

i have tried so many different natural face wash products and have yet to find one that works with my skin. i think this product you have for the giveaway would be my favorite out of their choices, b/c i have super sensitive skin. ive just about given up finding the right products.